OPPOSITION CORNER: Lee Briers' golden-point catalyst for success

HULL KR host Warrington Wolves on Sunday with Lee Briers’ golden-point Challenge Cup quarter-final decider looming large in the memory of the sides’ last meeting in the competition.

Wolves’ sudden-death drop goal win in 2009 was the catalyst for three Challenge Cup crowns in four seasons and remains their only game to be decided by the golden-point.

This provided some retribution for the men in primrose and blue, who suffered the club’s first Challenge Cup defeat to a lower league side at Hull KR three years earlier.

Wolves boast the sides’ most recent cup success, but Super League form at the KC Lightstream Stadium (formerly Craven Park) since that encounter favours the hosts.

The Robins have been victorious on four of Wolves’ past five visits, with Tony Smith’s side last winning there in 2011, 16-46.

Hull KR head into the fixture on the back of two convincing Super League wins. Those victories – beating Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 44-6 and Bradford Bulls 16-0 – saw Craig Sandercock’s side concede only one try.

However, the red and whites may be without several key players on Sunday. Tough forward Justin Poore serves a suspension, while centre Sean Gleeson and wingers David Hodgson and Craig Hall suffered recent injuries.

The Robins’ winger woes were eased slightly this week with the announcement that St Helens’ Ade Gardner, a regular scorer against Wolves during his time at Saints, will remain at Hull KR on loan for the season.

The fourth round clash pits the teams against one another for the first of two meetings in a fortnight, the second a Super League Round 8 fixture at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Friday, April 11.